What is family therapy?

In family therapy, I will be focused on providing treatment to address the overall functioning of the family, rather than an individual person. Typically, improvements in family functioning will lead to improvements in the mental health of each member of the family. While I will sometimes meet with each member of the family individually (or just the parental unit), most of the time I will be meeting with the entire family at once. This allows for each family member to feel heard and to practice techniques that require the presence of the whole family. I take an active approach in structuring my family sessions, as this tends to make them the most focused and productive. After each adult member of the family unit completes an intake form, I will meet with everyone together to find shared goals and also provide a roadmap to get there.

Why family therapy?

Research shows that our familial relationships can have a major impact on our mental health. Sometimes it can be much more effective to address the complex interactions in families together, rather than just intrapsychic (within one individual) processes, as would occur in individual therapy. Many times, particularly for teens, effective therapy can only be done by including parents in therapy so we can address issues like boundaries, feedback loops, and behavioral reinforcement.

How long will this process take?

As in individual therapy, there is no one timeline that will work for everyone. Many families experience improvement in 8-12 sessions. Families that practice the techniques during session outside of session tend to improve more quickly. As always, my aim is to put myself out of a job so that the family can address their own issues as a team.